Automobile body heater



pt-3,1940 w.T.Dow-s I j 21213364 AUTOMOBILE Bab! HEATER Filed April 26,19:51 2 Shgets-Sheet 1' IN VENTOR E E m'llz'am 7." flawns.

BY i qzw I A rz'omws Y's.

Spt. 3, 1940.

' w. T. DOWNS AUTOMOBILE BODY HEATER Filed April 26, 1937 2 sh'eets-sneepz TTORNE rs.

Patentedsept. a, 1940 UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE:

AUTOMOBILE BODY-HEATER William '1'. Downs, Detroit, Mich, assignor toEvans Products Company, Detroit, Mich.,'a corporation of-DelawareApplicationApril 26, 1937, Serial No. 138,903

Claims.

vide an automobile body heater having'an air inlet conduit associatedtherewith adjustably mounted adjacent a fresh air inlet passage so thatthe position of the heater'may be adjustedfor passing fresh air onlythrough the heater, or passing recirculated aironly through the heater,or'passing both recirculated and fresh air through the heater; toprovide a heater of novel construction which is light in weight andwhich takes up a minimum of room within the passenger compartment of thevehicle; to. provide a novel manner for adjustably mounting the heateron the dashboard of a vehicle; to provide a novel heater having asubstantially circular heating core with radial air discharge passagesformed by the core around the circumference thereof, and to provide anovel mounting for such type U of core under the front seatof thevehicle so that the heated air is discharged from the heater into boththe front and rear passenger com partments; to provide a heating core ofnovel construction having a roughened surface which provides foreflicient dissipation of heat from the heater; and to provide a. heaterstructure which is simple in construction and economical to manufacture.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing specification,

the drawings relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafter set forthIn the drawings inwhichlike numerals are used todesignate like parts inthe several views throughout:

'40 Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a vehicle havingassociated therewith ventilat ing and heating structures embodyingfeatures of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlargedvertical cross-sectional view of the structureillustrated ,in Fig; 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view taken substantially along the line 3-3 ofFig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view taken 60 substantially alongthe line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken substantially along theline 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view takensubstantially along theline 6-6 of Fig.2: a Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 illustrating andits one end is sealed in a similar manner by the structure in adifl'erent position in accordance with the present invention; and, Fig.8is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along theline 8-8 of Fig.7.

Referring 'to the drawings, and referring 5 particularly to Figs. 1 to8, an automobile i 4 is illustrated having a cowl IS, a hood l8, and adashboard 20 which separates the engine and passenger compartments. Aheater assembly 22 is mounted on the vdash 20 within the passenger -10compartment of the automobile and has inlet and outlet tubes 24 and. 26,respectively, connected in the usual way to the engine cooling systemfor carrying the heated cooling medium to and from the heater. 4 15 Theheater assembly 22 includes a substantially circular heating core 28which is formed of a plurality of ring shaped hollow members 30. Each ofthe ring shaped members 30 is formed of two complementary ring members32and 34. 20 The ring. member 32 is provided with an inner annular flange36 and an outer annular flange 37 extending in one direction; and thering member 34 is provided with a complementary innerannular flange 38and an outer annular-flange; 25 39 extending in the opposite direction.When the ring sections 32 and. are assembled a hollow ring shaped member30 is provided in which the annular flange 36 is telescopically receivedwithin the annular flange 38 and the annular 0 flange 31 is receivedwithin the annular flange 33 thus providing an annular chamber 40through which the heating medium circulates: The flanges 36 and 38 and31 and 39 are, of course,

properly sealed so that the heating medium flow- '35 ing through thecirculating chamber 40 does not escape.

Complementary portions 42 and 44 and 43 and 45 are provided on themembers 32 and 34, respectively, to provide air baflies for a portion of40 the distance around the circumference of themembers 30.

The inlet tube 24 is preferably substantially circular in cross-sectionand is provided with elongated discharge openings 48 through the outersurface thereof, spaced around the periphcry of the tube. The tube 24is-suitably closed and sealed adjacent its discharge end by means of acap member 50 which is telescopically re- 50 ceive'd over the end of thetube 24 and suitably sealed thereto. The return tube 23 is provided withsimilar elongated openings 52 therethrough,

a cap 54.

the openings 48 into the chambers Diametrically opposed openings 56 and58 areprovided through the ring shaped hollow members 30, and the core28 is thus formed by aligning the corresponding openings 56 and 58 ofthe members 30 and extending the tubes 24 and 26 through theirrespective openings in sealed engagement therewith. In order to spacethe members 30 from each other so as to provide radially extending airdischarge passages between the members 30,solid ring members 60 and 62are interposed between the hollow members 80 in embracing relation tothe tubes 24 and 26, respectively. The members 30 and the ring members60 and 62 are so arranged relative to the openings 7 48 and 52 in thetubes 24 and 26, respectively, that those portions of the openings 48and 52 adjacent the rings 60 and 62, respectively, are shut off whilethe remaining portions of the openings communicate the circulatingchambers with the interiors of the tubes 24 and 26.

The inlet end of the pipe 24 telescopically re ceives thereover acoupling member 64 to which an elongated flexible member 66 is connectedwhich extends to and communicates with the engine cooling systemin theusual way. A similar coupling member 68 is received over the outlet endof the return tube 26 and has connected thereto a flexible conduit I0which returns and communicates with the engine cooling system in theusual way.

In'the structure so far described the heating medium enters through thetube 24 and is discharged therefrom radially outwardly through 40adjacent the top ofthe core. The heating medium then circulates throughthe chambers 40 and is discharged through the openings 62 in the returnpipe 26 and is then returned to the engine cooling system in the usualway.

The radial surfaces of the members are of sumcient width as to providean efflcient heat transverse surface, and the members 30 are so spacedrelative to each other as to provide radially extending air dischargepassages around the circumference .of the core. The outwardly ex tendingportions 44 and 45 nest within the in-- wardly extending, portions 42and 43 in spaced relation thereto when the members 80 are in theirassembled position so as to effect baffling of the air over a portion ofthe core surface as the air is discharged radially outwardly from theheater. In order to increase the heating effect of the core the surfacesof the members 80 are roughened, and an efficient and novel manner ofdoing, this has been found by suitably securing metal shavings indicatedat 12 over the outer surfaces 7 of the members 30. These metal shavingsmay be secured to the surfaces in any manner and soldering has beenfound to be an eflicient manner of accomplishing this.

In order to force air past the heater in heat exchange relation with thecore and discharge the heated air into the passenger compartment of thevehicle, a centrifugal fan 14, of the sirocco type, is mountedcompletelywithin the core with the open inlet face I6 of the fan mounted adjacentone 'face of the core. The rear closed face 18 of the fan preferablylies in a plane substantially adjacent the plane of the other face ofthe core, and has fixed thereto substantially at its N center a shaft 80which is connected to and driven by a suitable motor 82.

For mounting the motor 82 to the core, a mounting plate 84 may besuitably secured to the face of one of the end mem: bers 30. The motor82 may be suitably secured .openings passes I sage, and means to thesupporting plate 84 by means of bolts 88 and nuts 81.

In .the structure illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 an opening 90 is providedthrough the hood I! communicating with the exterior of the vehicle; anda downwardly extending fresh air inlet conduit 82 is mounted forwardlyof the dash 20 and has a sidewardly extending substantially horizontalportion 84 which is in communication with an opening 86 through thedashboard 20. Although in the present application the communication withthe exterior of the vehicle is shown as being through the hood I8, it isto be understood that such a communication could be in other parts ofthe vehicle within the scope of the present invention. I

For adjustably mounting the heater assembly 22 relative to the dashboard20, the inlet and outlet tubes 24 and 26 respectively extend throughopenings in the dash and are embraced by tubular bearing members IN andI02 which are fixedly mounted within the openingsin the dash. Thus theheater assembly 22 is supported by the tubes 24 and 26 and may beadjusted toward and from the dash 20 by sliding the tubes within the Theclosed end I04 is slidably received through the opening 96 in the dash,and in Fig.

2 the heater is illustrated as positioned so that the'closed end I04 ofthe inlet conduit I02 closes the opening96 and recirculated air entersthe conduit I03 from within the passenger compartment through theopenings I06 and I08 into the inlet face 16 of the fan 14. The air isthen discharged radially outwardly through the passages formed by thecore into the passenger compartment.

Referring to Fig. 7 the heater is illustrated as being in its innermostposition so that the closed end I04 of the inlet conduit I03 extendswithin the fresh air inlet passage formed by the member 84, and thefresh air entering through the inlet through the inlets I08 and I08and'is discharged through the fan into the passenger compartment in aheated condition. When in the position shown in Fig. 7 all of the airdischarged into the passenger compartment is freshly heated air.

This invention contemplates intermediate positions of the heaterrelative to the dash in order to proportion the amount of recirculatedand fresh air passed through the heater.

. Formal changes may be made in the specific associated with saidpassage, said inlet conduit vhaving an inlet opening for communicatingwith body and with said inlet pM- the interior of the adiustablymounting said air the face of the heata second inlet conduit connectedto said 7 2,218,864 inlet conduit relative to said passage whereby theextentto which said inlet opening communicates with said passage may beadjustably controlled.

2. Vehicle body ventilating and heating struc-' ture comprising a firstair inlet conduit having an inlet opening communicating with theexterior of said vehicle and having an outlet opening a heater andfanunit mounted within said body adjacent said outlet opening, meansformheater and associated with said outlet opening or said firstconduit, said second inlet conduit having elongatedinlet openings formedthrough. the wall thereof adapted to communicate with .the interior ofthe body and with said first inlet conduit, and meansadjustably mountingsaid fflrst and second air inlet conduits relative to v ing'an air inletconduit connected to said heater and associated with said passage, andmeans adjustably mounting .said air inlet conduit relative tosaidpassage, the construction and arrangement of said airinlet conduitbeing. such that air may be drawn into said conduit from the interior ofthe vehicle body or may be drawn into said conduit from said passage, ormay be simultaneously drawnv into said conduit from the interior of saidvehicle body and said passage upon adjustment 01 said air inlet conduitrelative to said passage. I I

4, Vehicle body ventilating and heating structure comprising a vehiclebody having a dashboard, said dashboard having an opening therethrough,means forming an air inlet passage :communicating saidopening with theexterior of the vehicle, a' heater and fan unit mounted within saidvehicle adjacent said passage, said heater including a core having inletand outlet tubes carrying a heating medium to and from said core, saidtubes extending through said dashboard and supporting said heater andfan unit, bearing-members embracing said tubes and slidably mountingsaid tubes relative to said dashboard, whereby said heater is 'slidablymounted relative to said dashboard, means forming an air inletconduitconnected to said'heater for movement therewith and associatedwith the opening through said dashboard for adjustable movementtherethrough.

5, An automobile body heater comprising a substantially circular heatingcore, said core including ring shaped hollow members providing annularpassages for the flow of a heated medium therethrough, the outersurfaces ot-said mem- L hers having metal shavings secured thereto tolet tubes connected tothe engine cooling system and conducting heatingmedium to and from the core, said tubes extending through said ring Ishaped members and having openings communicating the interiors of thetubes .with the interiors of the ring shaped members, theconstrucprovide roughened outer surfaces, inlet and outtion andarrangement of said members relative to each other and to said tubesbeing such as to provide radial air passages, and means to pass airthrough said heater'andfthrough said air passages in members.- 1 WILLIAMT. DOWNS.

heat exchange relation with said

